Family-friendly food and design festival, Design POP, is coming to Cork this weekend

Have you heard the joke about Irish people throwing festivals for absolutely everything? Ted Fest, Poc Fada, bog snorkelling and matchmaking. I mean, they’re not wrong.

But there is something we’ve been lacking on and that’s design festivals. OFFSET and DCCoI’s Showcase do a magnificent job of introducing Irish creative design to the world and bringing international talent to over to inspire these shores, but it’s more for those already involved in the creative world, what if you want to bring the kids along and maybe coax them into considering a creative career?

New festival Design POP is looking to do just that, bringing workshops, talks and events to introduce children and adults to the wide world of design and creativity. Little ones can take part in the arts and crafts workshop happening in Thompson House on May 18th at 11.30am. Led by architecture duo Amy McKeogh and Chloe Kerins, they will create their own little masterpiece to take home.

For the adults, talks will be led by the likes of illustrator Conor Merriman, knifemaker Fingal Ferguson, architect and designer Rae Moore, street artist Joe Caslin and activist Dr Eve Olney, as well as panel discussions on everything from sculpture to branding and gender balance in design.

It’s not all design and no food either, as Taste Cork Talks take place every day in Thompson House, welcoming brewers, restaurateurs, and chefs who will chat through their creations as you experiment with all the flavours Cork’s food scene has to offer.

While there’s plenty more happening in Thompson House and the Crawford Gallery, the entire city will be taking in part with six pop-up pavilions dotted across town. For each one, a designer has been paired with a local food or drink producer to create a unique and interactive space that represents their brand ethos’.

At Emmet Place, visual artist Shane O’Driscoll has teamed up with veggie-friendly foodies Banana Melon. Expect bright and colourful creations here. At Cornmarket Street Alex Pentek is working with Applebee Bakes, while Bishop Lucey Park sees Conor Merriman brewing up something fun with SOMA coffee company. At Elizabeth Fort, design collective Fíor Studios is working with organic nut milk brand All Full Up, JCA Architects and Good Day Deli will be at Nano Nagle Place, and Meithal Design and My Goodness will be down by the river at Boardwalk.

You can find the whole Design POP schedule here, or head to designpop.ie for more.